The 4th of July is probably a cat's least favorite holiday (perhaps tied with Halloween and the dreaded doorbell).    

The noise usually begins a few days before the holiday and may last throughout the weekend, since July 4 is on a Friday. A cat's sense of hearing is much more acute than ours, and all the noises associated with the holiday are much more intense for them. Add to that the lack of understanding of what is going on, and you can have a very scared cat on your hands.  

Here are some tips for helping your cat cope with fireworks:

• Create a safe room or safe hiding places - put beds, food, water, toys, and cat trees and scratchers in the room. Leave a radio or tv on in the room, as this may act as white noise and block out some of noise. "Igloo style" cat beds can also be a good option.
• Close all the windows, lower shades, and draw blinds to at least lower noise levels somewhat.
• Play some calming music (classical is good), but don't try to drown out the sound of fireworks by blasting the music.  
• Natural calming remedies, such as Stress Stopper or Storm Soother can help keep kitties calm. Pheromone plug-ins such as Comfort Zone with Feliway can also help - use in the area where your cat tends to hide during storms.
• Remain calm - our cats pick up on our emotions, and if we're anxious, they'll be anxious as well. Reassure your cat, but don't overdo it. While it's tempting to cuddle and comfort your cat during fireworks, in your cat's mind, this rewards the fearful behavior. Speak in a calm, but cheerful voice.
• Medication - if your cat has reacted very badly to fireworks in the past, you may want to talk to you veterinarian about prescribing anti-anxiety medication.

We hope these strategies are helpful if your cat is upset by Independence Day festivities. 

Article courtesy of www.ConsciousCat.com